Castro says Cuba will never return to Americas bloc

Regional leaders support dialogue for economic development in Venezuela

By Neysi Hernández

HAVANA (AA) – The heads of state of the 25-member Association of Caribbean States (ACS) have supported a special communiqué for effective dialogue that favors political stability, social development and the economic recovery of Venezuela.

The document was produced Saturday on the final day of the seventh summit of the group meeting here.

Speaking at a press conference at Havana’s Revolution Palace, Cuban President Raul Castro said the discussions at the meetings “demonstrate the need and ability to address key regional issues.”

Among those issues is the political and economic situation in Venezuela that has threatened the rule of President Nicolas Maduro, who attended the summit.

Castro lashed out at the Organization of American States and its leader, Luis Almagro, for calling an emergency meeting to discuss Venezuela’s membership in the regional bloc.

“Cuba will never go back to the Organization of American States,” Castro said. "First the Southern sea would join the Northern sea, and a serpent would be born from the eagle's egg.”

Cuba was suspended from the organization shortly after Fidel Castro came to power.

In addressing the broader region, Castor said “a new neoliberal wave, with the dismantling of inclusive social policies, increased poverty and inequality, market deregulation,environmental vulnerability and the diminishing role of the state, prevent us from achieving the objectives of regional integration andcooperation we have it fixed.”

Leaders attending the summit called for an end of the U.S. blockade against Cuba.Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solis said Latin America is becoming a transit route for migrants from other areas.

He also stressed the need for urgency in combating trafficking networks that violate humanitarian security in the region, which is becoming, in hisview, a traffic area.

Participants expressed support for efforts to increase understanding,dialogue and constitutional procedures, while reaffirming provisions of the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone ofPeace that was adopted at a summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) regional bloc, held January 2014 in Havana.